Chandigarh, November 23,2025: Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Sunday tried to calm rising tensions across the state, reaffirming that Chandigarh “remains an integral part of Punjab” as protests swell over the Centre’s proposal to bring the Union Territory under Article 240.
Jakhar said the BJP’s Punjab unit stands with the people of the state and their concerns. He stressed that the party will always prioritise Punjab’s interests on crucial issues, including Chandigarh and the ongoing river water disputes.
“Chandigarh is inseparable from Punjab. The Punjab BJP is committed to protecting the state’s rights, whether on Chandigarh or river waters. Any misunderstanding will be resolved through dialogue with the government,” he said. “As a Punjabi, I assure everyone that Punjab comes first for us.”
His remarks come at a time when the Central government is preparing to introduce the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament. The proposed amendment would extend Article 240 to Chandigarh, placing the city in the same category as Union Territories like Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
The proposal has met sharp resistance in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have unanimously rejected the move, calling it an attack on Punjab’s constitutional rights.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the proposal, accusing the Centre of acting against the state’s interests. In a post on X, he called the amendment “a conspiracy” and insisted that Punjab holds sole rights over Chandigarh. “Chandigarh was built on land taken from Punjab. We will never give up our claim and will take every step needed to protect our rights,” he said.
The issue has now intensified into a unified political pushback, with all major parties framing the proposal as an attempt to dilute Punjab’s historical and constitutional claim over Chandigarh.
